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4.28.2011

Ozzie Guillen Tweets Himself into a Corner

For the most part, Ozzie Guillen's tweets don't make any sense. Even if you are bilingual. Of course, that doesn't make them any less entertaining.

However, Major League Baseball is looking into any rules the Chicago White Sox manager may have broken by making derogatory comments about an umpire via Twitter after being ejected.

Guillen was tossed Wednesday night for arguing balls and strikes with plate umpire Todd Tichenor in the very first inning of Chicago’s 3-1 loss to the New York Yankees. He immediately went on Twitter to say . He went on to say that a ... he has not tweeted since.

It was Guillen’s 26th career ejection and first of this season.

If he does get into trouble over this, it would mark the first time ever a player, coach or manager would be penalized for using the social networking site during a game. Lame.

So the big debate begins: should MLB have the right to restrict the use of Twitter by its players and personnel? Does this completely toy with their right as a United States citizen to the freedom of expression, outlined by the First Amendment?

On the other hand, baseball already has a social media policy in place covering employees that prevents them from dissing the umps. There also are guidelines that prohibit players, managers and coaches from communicating by electronic equipment from 30 minutes before a game until it ends.